Partnerships
Chapter 3

The Government believes that the excessive emphasis in the past on market competition has inhibited collaboration; and that strong partnerships are now needed to develop efficient local strategies for learning

    The Government should enable the establishment of a national system of permanent local strategic partnerships to widen participation; the partnerships should support the Council in its duty to secure the provision of sufficient and adequate further education [LW Ch 3]; and

    should expect local partnerships to set local participation targets [LW Ch 1]

3.1 This Government has stressed a partnership approach in planning education and training provision. That is central to the Investing in Young People strategy. We look to the FEFC’s regional committees to be effective partners with local government and other providers in improving co-operation in meeting the needs of 16-19 year olds, developing local skill strategies and setting regional targets. The new Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) will also work with FEFC, colleges, local authorities, Higher Education Institutions and Training and Enterprise Councils to develop effective co-operation on strategies for lifelong learning – for example, identifying future skill needs. We are also placing a new emphasis on partnerships within the sector, to reduce the waste caused by unnecessary competition, and to ensure that the sector is better placed to meet future challenges. We have established a new Further Education Collaboration Fund to promote such partnerships within and beyond the FE sector.

    The Government should in creating the ‘University for Industry’, draw upon the expertise of the Council, further education providers and other key organisations, to develop a service which will meet the needs of the widest spectrum of learners, and support the ‘New Learning Pathway’ [LW Ch 9]; and

    should make it a key role of the local strategic partnerships to promote clear and consistent messages about the value of learning and the range of opportunities available, and to collaborate with the ‘University for Industry’ at local level [LW Ch 9]

3.2 The UfI will act as the hub of a new learning network, linking people and businesses to the education and training they need, using modern communication technology. FE colleges and other providers will play a full part in the UfI network, for example by acting as local learning centres, and by providing commissioned courses to fill gaps in learning needs. By making it easier for individuals and companies to learn, the UfI will be a major means of widening participation. One target group will be those in need of basic skills training.

    The Government should promote the establishment of employers’ learning centres as part of the ‘University for Industry’; firms with over 200 employees should set up their new centres, and smaller firms should be encouraged to work together to create them [LW Ch 2];

    should encourage local partnerships to identify openings for introducing new employee development schemes[LW Ch 2]; and

    should extend tax incentives to encourage private sector employers to establish employee development schemes[LW Ch 4]

3.3 The Government will foster the widespread establishment of company learning centres, with close links to the UfI, in both public and private sectors. The Learning Age supports further development of partnership between employers, employees and their unions, including employee development schemes. We have already announced that we shall provide £2 million towards an employee education development fund next year. The launch of the UfI will encourage commerce and industry to establish both of these types of initiative. The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to making Investors in People the general standard across the public and private sectors, and in large and small companies.

    The Government should encourage local education authorities to produce annual development plans setting out their proposals for securing adequate provision for non-schedule 2 students [LW Ch 2]; and

    should explore urgently all avenues for ensuring the availability of adequate funding for non-schedule 2 provision, including alternative funding routes [LW Ch 2]

3.4 The Government is clear that adult education provided by local authorities and voluntary bodies has an important contribution to make to the learning age. We will shortly be consulting the Local Government Association, the FEFC and others about proposals for local access plans and arrangements for courses outside the scope of Schedule 2 to the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

    The Government should revise the articles of government of sector colleges to give corporations a responsibility to meet the needs of the local community [LW Ch 3]

3.5 The Government expects FE colleges to be accountable, open and responsive to their local communities, although their independence will be preserved. We shall shortly publish a consultation document, setting out a range of proposals designed to improve accountability and conduct in the FE sector.

    The Government should develop the role of the Employment Service in promoting the value of, and the opportunities for, learning, particularly to those with little recent experience of learning or who lack basic skills and qualifications [LW Ch 9]

3.6 The Employment Service already takes on the important role of advising clients on the learning opportunities available to them. It has a pivotal role in the New Deal, which includes education and training in all its strands. The successful development of this role will be linked with the growing influence of strategic partnerships and funding mechanisms to encourage wider participation.

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